2 Timothy 1:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! — and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

NIV: May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

NASB: the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

CSB: May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.

NLT: May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.

KJV: The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

NKJV: The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

Paul's attitude toward Onesiphorus is extremely positive, offering a blessing on his behalf. Paul expected Onesiphorus would be blessed in heaven because of his Christ-like actions towards Paul. Paul gave a blessing to the household of Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:16) and later refers to the "household" of Onesiphorus in 2 Timothy 4:19 rather than the man by name. Some Catholic traditions interpret this as a prayer for the dead. However, this interpretation exaggerates the known information from this text and is in contradiction with other passages that speak of the Lord as the one to whom believers should pray.

The last phrase "you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus" adds an extra insight into this man's service. In addition to his ministry to Paul in Rome, Onesiphorus had been an important servant in Ephesus where Timothy served and likely where Onesiphorus lived. He was a man whose passion was to serve the Lord, whether at home or away, leaving a legacy. His acts impacted one of the greatest Christian leaders of all time.

Second Timothy 1:8–18 encourages Timothy to be brave and protective of his faith. Paul reminds his dear friend Timothy that the Spirit of God grants Christians spiritual power. As a result, they should not be afraid to associate with persecuted brothers and sisters. Timothy is encouraged to hold to accurate, healthy Christian teachings. Paul also refers to various ministry partners who have supported—or abandoned—him.

Paul introduces himself, then recaps Timothy's path to becoming a minister. He reminds Timothy of how his family brought him up in the faith, and then how Timothy served faithfully with Paul in the past. Paul then focuses on two primary ideas. First, that Timothy's background in the faith should give him the courage to stand fast against hard times. Second, that Timothy should use that courage to defend the truth of the gospel message. Paul will use these points and examples as the foundation for the rest of his letter.

Chapter 1 establishes Timothy's spiritual background. Paul expresses gratitude for Timothy, by reminding him of his past, in order to set the stage for later teachings. Paul first expresses gratitude for Timothy's prior faithfulness, and reminds him of how God called him into ministry. From that point, Paul encourages Timothy to be brave and to guard the truth of the gospel message. Later chapters will explain why Paul feels these traits are necessary, both for the sake of the world and for Timothy in general.

Second Timothy is the last New Testament letter written by Paul. Paul writes these words while awaiting execution by Rome. At this time, around AD 67, Timothy was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul writes to Timothy in order to encourage him. Paul is facing the worst of all hardships: his own impending death. So, he encourages Timothy to stand strong in his faith, with a reliance on the written Word of God. This letter echoes many of the themes Paul uses in his other letters.

Accessed 11/21/2024 6:30:00 AM